ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces co-production in a public sector setting. It argues that there has been a surge in interest in co-production in both academic research and practice over the last fifteen years, with the concept undergoing notable conceptual developments during this time. The debate on co-production is framed with reference to the role of individual or groups of service users in the planning and delivery of public services and also co-production at an organisational level. This chapter suggests that by developing an integrated and multi-dimensional model of co-production that draws on two streams of literature from public administration and service management, the co-production of public services can be better conceptualised and understood. The chapter concludes by detailing the structure of the book.
